Singer Alicia Keys almost aborted her son
By Cassy Fiano-Chesser | March 31, 2020 , 10:40am
Singer Alicia Keys almost aborted her son, but a song helped her choose life instead
Last week, Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys opened up about her childhood, explaining in a CBS News interview that her mother almost had an abortion when she was pregnant with her. Keys’ new book, “More Myself: A Journey,” is set to release soon, and she’s been speaking frankly about her life and the difficult decisions she has had to make — including the decision to choose life for her own child.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Keys admitted that she considered having an abortion when she got pregnant with her second child. Keys is married to producer and rapper Swizz Beatz, and they welcomed their son Egypt in 2010. And in 2014, when Keys was hard at work on her sixth album, she realized she was four months pregnant and was already struggling with a busy life. “I wasn’t ready for this, which is what I told the doctor,” Keys wrote. “‘This is the worst time ever. I’m working on my next album. My husband just got into Harvard Business School. And I’ve been drinking—a lot.’ I left her office feeling so torn.”
Even though Keys, who has previously expressed pro-abortion sentiments, is a successful, award-winning singer in a loving marriage with millions of dollars in the bank, she still felt scared and overwhelmed at the prospect of an unexpected pregnancy. Ultimately, though, she chose life for her son.
“While I was struggling over my choice, I went into the studio one evening and began listening to ‘More Than We Know,’ a song Swizz and I had written,” Keys said. “The lyrics are about how we’re capable of so much more than we can ever imagine. My eyes filled with tears. How could I take away the potential for this beautiful child, this light that could touch others in ways I couldn’t dream of. For me, the song was a powerful message that I should go on with the pregnancy.”
Her son Genesis was born in December of 2014, and she’s now a happy mother of two. But her story shows how easily women can feel as if they have no choice but abortion. Keys even felt that way; it’s not hard to imagine how a woman struggling financially, without a partner or a family to support her, or without a career to depend on, might feel just as scared, if not more so. Keys shows that women aren’t necessarily choosing abortions because they cavalierly want them; they choose abortions often because they’re desperate, vulnerable, and think they have no other choice. What we, as pro-lifers, must do is fight to give them other choices, so abortion isn’t just illegal; it’s unthinkable.
This article was taken from the Live Action website.
“With me every step of the way”
Young mom praises APRN as she awaits her baby girl’s birth
September 11, 2024
By Tabitha Goodling
One young woman is about give birth to her daughter this fall thanks to the Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN).
Rebecca is due on October 12, having successfully reversed her chemical abortion.
The mom of two young boys did not think it was possible for her to have another baby when she saw the positive pregnancy test earlier this year.
Rebecca conversed with Pregnancy Help News through email about her APR story.“The father of my baby gave me two choices: have an abortion or he wouldn’t be involved in the baby’s life,” she said. “I felt like I had no good options to choose from.”
Rebecca admitted she was “too ashamed” to walk into a Planned Parenthood. The closest such clinic was two hours away.
She instead went online and ordered the pills – without any consultation with a medical professional.“I knew it was a mistake as soon as I took the first pill,” Rebecca said. “I panicked and searched online how to reverse the pill.”
The APR hotline came up in Rebecca’s search. She said she was relieved to hear the voice on the other end.
“They were there with me every step of the way,” Rebecca said. “They helped comfort me, made sure I had adequate medical care.”
She was then referred to an OB/GYN and given progesterone, the hormone that reverses the damages of the first pill, mifepristone.
Abortion Pill Reversal entails prescribing bioidentical progesterone to counter the abortion drug mifepristone. Progesterone is the natural hormone in a pregnant woman’s system necessary to sustain pregnancy. As the first of two abortion drugs in a chemical abortion, mifepristone blocks progesterone, starving the unborn baby of essential nutrients. A second abortion drug, misoprostol, later causes the mother to go into labor and deliver her deceased child.
If a woman acts quickly enough after taking mifepristone it may be possible to save her unborn child through APR. To date, statistics say that more than 5,000 lives and counting have been saved thanks to the APRN, a network of medical professionals, clinics, and pregnancy help organizations that facilitate APR.
Rebecca decided to “flush the second pill down the toilet.”
Rebecca said as well that she is extremely grateful this program exists and that she will be able to hold her daughter in her arms very soon.
Cassaundra refused abortion after rape and has no regrets
Liveaction.org
By Lisa Bast | September 9, 2024 , 10:58am
Cassaundra Baber was an 18-year-old college student when she encountered a predator during an evening at a nightclub with friends from her dormitory. To a bystander, she looked to be young and innocent with a page-boy haircut framing her face, standing alone, separated from her friends, wondering what to do. One man took advantage of that innocence to rape her.
Baber told Live Action, “That’s when a man came up to me and told me he’d help me find my friends. But he kept moving me along, like he knew what he was doing. Soon, he led me outside and that’s when I began to feel afraid. He steered me to an alley, and it was then, I knew I wasn’t getting out of there.”
It was then that the man sexually assaulted her.
“He was so clever, he knew I was unworldly,” Baber said. “I couldn’t quite process what had happened to me. He tried to pretend he cared about me.”
When Baber’s friends found her, they were upset, thinking she had snuck off with a man she just met. But the rapist whispered in Baber’s ear that she hadn’t done anything wrong.
Baber said, “When I got home, I scrubbed my body, pushing away from my mind the trauma. Everything was so confusing at the time. I just didn’t realize I had been violated.”
But the perpetrator wasn’t finished tormenting her. He found her phone number and left “creepy” messages on her answering machine.
“I finally called him back and told him I had a boyfriend, to leave me alone,” Baber said.
Six weeks later, Baber discovered she was pregnant, a stark reminder of the assault. While she was elated to become a mother because she loved children, she was also frightened about the uncertainty of her future. Her friends and school counselors urged her to get an abortion.
Baber said, “I was at a private school where most of the students were wealthy. I was told I was ‘too poor and too smart’ to let an unplanned pregnancy ruin my life.”
Yet Baber knew abortion for what it was: the intentional killing of preborn children. Her grandmother had been active in the pro-life movement and Baber had been raised in a devout Catholic home, both influences that had shaped her attitude about abortion.
“My grandmother volunteered at Birthright and brought home models of preborn babies,” Baber said. “She showed me the film, ‘The Silent Scream’ which was very powerful. I also had a determined personality and that helped me withstand pressure to terminate my pregnancy.”
While her parents were divorced, they were supportive, especially Baber’s father.
Baber said, “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I was very motivated to do well for my son and to prove to the world that I could succeed as a teen mom.”
Inspired by her child
Armed with tenacity and dedication, Baber excelled academically in school through pregnancy and after her son was born.
“I was studying journalism and would take my son to the newsroom with me,” Baber said. “I figured I had a right to be there with my baby and I found nobody cared that I did. The abortion industry wants women to believe they will not have support to thrive as single mothers. I’m living proof that’s a lie.”
Yet Baber did have challenging days working, attending class, and caring for a baby. Her faith was instrumental in getting her through those days. She looked to Mother Mary as a source of inspiration, a woman who suffered much but who silently persevered through difficult times.
Baber said, “I sacrificed to ensure my son was brought up in a healthy environment. I dated but didn’t feel safe bringing a man into my home while raising my son.”
Still, Baber grappled with the unhealed wounds festering inside her. It wasn’t until her son went to college that she found the healing that had eluded her for so many years.
“During a time, I was dealing with promiscuity, addiction, and nightmares,” Baber said. “I kept going to Mass seeking understanding of what I had been through. I joined women’s groups, trying to talk about my struggles, but felt ostracized. Nobody could relate to my story and didn’t know how to help me.”It was as if she was adrift in a sea of confusion with no lifeline in sight. She learned to spend time with Jesus, praying for guidance and restoration.
While at an “Unbound” conference, a woman approached Baber and told her Jesus was going to heal her.Baber said, “I went through seven years of deliverance and inner healing. For the first time, I faced what had happened to me. I was eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome.”
A new mission
Going through her journey prompted Baber to give up her successful career as a journalist to share her story with others.
She founded Momdacity, a pro-life movement empowering women with the audacity to mother in an anti-mom world.
“Momdacity came about almost as a sarcastic slap to the pro-abortion movement’s underhanded claim that motherhood is such a dooming experience,” Baber said.
For Baber, there is much more to do. She is currently working toward a master’s degree in psychology and plans to launch a ministry, “Make Her Known,” to offer online coaching and group sessions.Baber said, “I’m coming into a new chapter in my life. I promised God I would do whatever he asked. I want others who are dealing with unresolved pain to learn how to move forward and fully embrace life again.”
She maintains a close relationship with her son who is now an engineer living in New York City.
“Dakota was always aware of the circumstances surrounding his conception,” Baber said. “He grew to be a beautiful, loving, caring person who’s very inventive and intelligent. I am proud of the person he’s become. I have never regretted for one moment having my son.”
She finds it abhorrent how the abortion industry leverages the trauma of rape to convince women to abort their babies as if these babies were the source of their suffering.
Baber said, “It’s vile to use experiences like mine to justify murdering children like my son. I will not sit down and be silent about the atrocities of abortion. We must continue our fight to further pro-life principles.”
I chose life despite a teen pregnancy
By Isabel | September 5, 2024 , 04:53pm
I chose life despite a teen pregnancy, and achieved my dreams of career and family
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this guest post are solely those of the guest author. Live Action News has made minor edits for clarity. The author’s name has been changed to protect privacy.
At 16, when faced with a positive pregnancy test result, my choice to embrace motherhood was pivotal. Now, as I reflect on my journey at age 29, with a master’s degree and a thriving private practice in psychotherapy, I recognize that this choice was not only transformative but also profoundly shaped the trajectory of my life.
My decision to have my three children and not pursue an abortion has been the best choice of my life, fostering a journey of personal growth, professional achievement, and deep familial fulfillment.
A teen pregnancy revealed the need for a supportive community
When I first learned I was pregnant, I was just 16 and had been with my boyfriend for only a few months. The news was met with shock and dismay from many people, especially from our parents, who were understandably concerned. The weight of their disappointment was heavy, and voices around us urged me to consider an abortion, believing that having a baby at such a young age would inevitably derail my future.
Despite the pressure and negativity, I chose a different path. I decided to embrace the challenge and focus on the positive aspects of this new chapter. The journey was far from easy, but my determination to prove that I could balance motherhood with my academic goals drove me forward.
I informed my school about my situation, and they were supportive, making accommodations that allowed me to attend classes from home. This support was crucial, enabling me to stay engaged with my education while preparing for the arrival of my baby.
Although I felt isolated and faced judgment from others, I remained steadfast in my commitment to my studies and the life I was nurturing.
Pregnancy brought a wave of isolation and sadness. I lost touch with many of my friends, and the disapproving looks and harsh comments from people around me were difficult to endure. The negativity was relentless, with many suggesting that I was making a colossal mistake and questioning my character and capabilities.
However, amidst the challenges, I focused on what truly mattered: the incredible gift of life that I was creating and the future I wanted to build for my child and myself. My dedication to my schoolwork remained unwavering, and I found solace and strength in the new role I was embracing.
When the time came, I gave birth and continued to push forward with my education. I graduated high school on time with honors, a testament to my resilience and determination. Each achievement was a milestone that reinforced my belief in my ability to overcome obstacles and succeed despite the odds.
After graduating high school, my journey took me to a private college in the city where I lived. Balancing the demands of higher education while raising my child, working, and managing all the responsibilities of daily life was no small feat, but it was a challenge I embraced wholeheartedly. Despite the challenges, I found strength in my child’s presence. Each smile, each milestone, and the pure joy of being a parent was a constant reminder of why I was pursuing my goals with such dedication. The small victories we celebrated together were sources of immense satisfaction and motivation.
Each milestone “felt like a victory”
Having our second child at just 23 while managing the demands of graduate school and working full-time was an extraordinary challenge, but it was also a testament to our commitment and resilience. Our decision to start a family young, coupled with the pursuit of my master’s degree, created a whirlwind of responsibilities and opportunities for growth. Despite the challenges, there were moments of profound joy and fulfillment. Each milestone—whether it was a breakthrough in my studies, a positive work review, or a new achievement by one of our children—felt like a victory. The support my husband and I gave each other, the dedication to our goals, and the love we had for our children made every sacrifice worthwhile.
By the time we welcomed our third child, at 28, we had navigated a remarkable journey filled with hard work, dedication, and unwavering support from and for each other. Balancing the demands of parenthood, multiple jobs, and my pursuit of a graduate degree had tested us in many ways, but our commitment to our family and our dreams kept us focused and resilient.
Having our third child was a joyful milestone. Our home is now bustling with the energy of three children, and our responsibilities had grown even more complex. Despite the challenges, we embraced this new chapter with the same determination that had carried us through previous years.
By this time, we had worked diligently to build a stable foundation for our family. We had achieved the dream of owning our own house, a symbol of our hard work and stability. Each room in that house is filled with the echoes of our journey—the laughter of our children, the quiet moments of reflection, and the fruits of our labor.
In my professional life, I have established a private psychotherapy practice. The transition from juggling multiple jobs to building a practice from the ground up was a significant step, but it was one I approached with passion and dedication.
Balancing the demands of running a practice with raising three children requires a careful equilibrium, but the rewards are immense. I found fulfillment in helping others navigate their own challenges while simultaneously managing my own family life.
“Our greatest accomplishment”
There were many times along the way when we juggled multiple jobs and made significant sacrifices. Each step of the way, we reminded ourselves of what truly mattered: our family. We celebrated the small victories and milestones, knowing that our hard work was creating a nurturing environment for our children and a solid foundation for our future.
Our journey was never easy, but it was deeply enriching. The struggles we faced only strengthened our bond as a couple and as a family. We learned the value of perseverance, the importance of staying grounded, and the joy of watching our children grow up in a home filled with love and stability.
Throughout my journey, my mom was an indispensable source of support and encouragement. Her presence was a beacon of unwavering strength and compassion, demonstrating firsthand the profound impact a parent can have on their child’s life.
Now, as we reflect on our achievements and look to the future, we are proud of the path we’ve paved. Our family is our greatest accomplishment, and every challenge we overcame has only made us more appreciative of the life we’ve built together.
This article can be found at: I chose life despite a teen pregnancy, and achieved my dreams of career and family (liveaction.org)
